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| Advent Wreath Glow Photo by Carol Weaver. Please ask permission before copying |
Advent candles are often on sale over the Thanksgiving holiday. So now is the time to go and get your candles for your wreath!
Advent (from the Latin word adventus, which means "arrival" or "coming") is the first season of the liturgical year. It begins four Sundays before Christmas, the Sunday falling on or nearest to 30 November, and ends on Christmas Eve. Traditionally observed as a "fast", it focuses on preparation for the coming of Christ, not only the coming of the Christ-child at Christmas, but also, in the first weeks, on the eschatological final coming of Christ, making Advent "a period for devout and joyful expectation".[8] This season is often marked by the Advent Wreath, a garland of evergreens with four candles. Although the main symbolism of the advent wreath is simply marking the progression of time, many churches attach themes to each candle, most often 'hope', 'faith', 'joy', and 'love.' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advent)
On Sunday evenings, we gather around our Advent Wreath and sing "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" and do the Advent Ceremony in Martha Zimmerman's excellent book, Celebrating the Christian Year. We do different colors of candles than the ones Martha suggests. Do what you feel comfortable with!
This book is a goldmine with background, history, Scriptures, equipment necessary, and recipes for not only Advent but for celebrations all year long!
For younger kids, the Advent Reading books by Arnold Ytreeide were a big hit with our kids. There is a cliffhanger every night!
(They were so hard to find back when my kids were little that I sent the next in the series that we were not using to my girlfriend in Colorado because they were selling for over $100, and her kids were wanting the next installment! There are now many copies.)
I guarantee your family will be on the edge of their seat every night begging for more!
Here is the order of the Advent series:
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